Gaza Herald – Gaza’s Ministry of Health has warned that the collapse of cancer treatment services has reached a critical stage, stressing that the suspension of chemotherapy protocols is a “slow death sentence” for thousands of patients, including hundreds of children and women.
In a statement issued Thursday, the ministry said oncology departments have been left completely paralyzed after essential specialized cancer medications ran out, bringing chemotherapy treatment to a halt.
The ministry stressed that interrupting chemotherapy does not simply delay treatment but allows tumors to return rapidly and aggressively, placing the lives of thousands of cancer patients at immediate risk.
It added that many cancer patients are enduring severe pain without access to life-saving treatment or even basic pain relief medications, while continued restrictions on medical travel prevent them from receiving specialized care outside Gaza.
The ministry urgently appealed to international organizations and humanitarian agencies to secure immediate deliveries of cancer drugs and specialized medications, warning that the health catastrophe will continue to worsen if treatment remains unavailable.
The warning comes amid an escalating medical crisis across Gaza. Earlier this month, Gaza health officials said more than 22,000 patients require treatment outside the Strip, yet only about 30 patients are permitted to leave during the irregular openings of the Rafah crossing.
Health authorities also reported that approximately 1,500 patients have died while waiting for permission to travel for medical treatment, while Gaza continues to lose three to four cancer patients every day, in addition to dialysis patients who are unable to access life-saving care.
Gaza’s healthcare system has suffered catastrophic damage since October 2023, with hospitals and medical facilities devastated, and severe shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and fuel leaving specialized services, particularly cancer care, on the verge of total collapse.
